Sam, Robinson in battle to head SVGTU

Outspoken President of the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Teachers Union, SVGTU, Otto Sam will next week know if his bid to be reelected to the presidency of the Teachers’ Union is successful.

Sam comes up against former President Oswald Robinson whom he successfully challenged for the post in 2004. That time around, Sam beat Robinson 491 votes to 425.

Sam, currently involved in a public war of words with officials of the Ministries of Education and Finance, is the Headteacher of the Lowmans Windward Anglican School. Robinson is a Qualified Assistant Teacher (QAT) attached to the C.W. Prescod Primary School.{{more}}

Three-term General Secretary of the Union, Joy Matthews, QAT at the Gomea Methodist School will contest the office of 1st Vice President this time around. According to the constitution, having served for three consecutive terms as General Secretary, she is not eligible to contest that post. She will come up against Eltrio Allen, a QAT attached to the C.W. Prescod Primary.

The office of General Secretary will see a face-off between Committee Member Carmalie Nicholls, QAT at the Gomea Methodist School and Deborah Charles, QAT attached to the Kingstown Anglican School.

Anthony Compton, Teacher II at the Paget Farm Government School will vie against Laymon Jack, QAT at the Lowmans Leeward Anglican School for the post of Treasurer. Sheldon Govia, Nelson Hillocks and St. Clair Cox will run unopposed for the offices of 2nd Vice President, Public Relations Officer and Assistant General Secretary respectively. Vincent Benjamin and Jan Ollivierre-Providence have been nominated for the two vacant offices as Committee Members.

The elections will be held on February 22nd and 23rd. 1225 members of the union are eligible to vote.